Face mask



Jan. 13, 1953 A. E. ENGELDER 2,625,155

FACE MASK Filed Dec. 11, 195o INVENTOR.

ArhurEErgeZder BY//f//fw y N..

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FACE M'SIiArthur Ei Engelder, Douglas, Ariz. Applcatinf- December' 11, 1950;ASeriali' N 0r 200,250 9 Claims (Cl. 12S-146) Thee-present inventionrelates in: general to. face masks suitable. for` use with metabolismin` strumentsresuscitators^ and anesthesia machines- In particular theinvention relates to an improvedl face mask embodying. the following desired characteristics; a close seal between the periphery of the maskand the face; comfortableconformity of the mask tov theA contours' of-the face; unobstructed transparency of the mask seV that the face ofthepatient, may befviewed without removal' of the. mask for' examination'of thealipsg.. mouth and: nasal. area, all: metal. yokes inf-r cluding.the yoke ati the; apexi being.: eliminated; and; an: improvedconstructionxof. the mask and. of the.y means to secure:y it to. thevpatient-fs .head to reduce: to a minimum the.y tendency torslip'to-Wards the eyes. An additional important., fea tureA comprises thestructural incorporation of meansin the mask to permit removal ofaccumulated secretions from theV mouth and nose of the patient bysuctionv through. an-` ordinary catheter without necessity for liftingor removing the.V mask.

Standard face masks in-` use today with metabolism instruments,resuscitators and anesthesia machines consist.A of a. plasti`c. metal.or. stiff rubber domesur-mounting aninated rubbery ring held. againstthe: subjects facer.. over his mouthI and-nose', by means of aheadharnesa Usually located'. on: the apex of the dome is a breathing;port to which rubberftubes.areconnected through a. relatively heavymovable metal connecting yoke.. The` combination of. domeA and inflated.rubber ring provides:y an. adequate` seal. against` leakage only whenthemask is pressed-very. tight ly' against the face, a situation sometimesu-ncomfortable to the` patient.. The connecting. yokef lfrequentlyincorporates a. swivel attachment ine the port and is subject to someleakage and therefore undesirable. Additionally, the. weight ofthe yoketends. to cause. the. mask to` slip onthe pa tients. face,l a. tendencyaggravated by the` fact. that. the: periphery of the` conventional.dome? does not usually conform toA the normal anatomical contours ofthe: face. Any tendency ofthe; maskto slip upwardly is undesirable inthatdis'- placement over the patients eyes hindersandi interferes withthe anesthetist who may nd: it desirable to examineV the pupils. of. thepatients eyes. A displacement of the mask. downwardsL overthe`chinexposes a'wide area to leakageisalong.. the lateral angles of thepatients chin or. ad;` jacent cheeks..

Frequently during tha administration .ofY are` estlieticsfr or; while apatientis unconscious.. the` accumulation. of salivaz and: mucous in.the nose,

mouth and throat. constitutes ai serious hazard. which can be met onlyby' suction. removal of t-heiy secretions before theyare aspirated'yinto the` lungs; this is because the protectivev tendency to. cough. is.suppressedv byanesthetics and` is absentwhenzthe patient is=unconscious.On conf ventional masks no means are provided toallow aspiration of.the: nose and throat.` without.A complete or partiali removalof theImask.

In at masky constructedL in' accordance.'y with thel present:- inventionthe` shortcomings andi defectsV of the prior art-have been` largelyovereomewhile usehas been made. of the advantages;l The present.invention comprises af rigid and transparent plastic dome contoured tothev anatomical features general conformity tol` of thel face. Normalvariation@T of facial. contours makes it impracti cable to design onerigid. mask` to t allI faces.Y

Two porta with` removablel plugs, are. positioned opposite the mouthAand.. nostrils soa that aspiration of theoral .andnasalpassages may beaccomplished readily by use of suction tubing.

It is.v an objectof the. present invention to` pro'- vide: anv improvedVfacemask for." use withmetabolisnr instrumenta. resuscitat'ors and)anesthesia.

machines.V

It is, a; furtherr object. of vtheV invention. to pro.-y vide' altace`maskhaving a periphery contoured to# tclosely the' anatomical featuresof' the. face and provid-ingr an effective sealagainst` leak-'age offoxygen or" anesthetic and which employs the anatomical featurestostabilize` itsv position' andl in particular t'o prevent slippagetalong the bridge of" t'lieAv nose" towards the eyes:

It'is' a further' object of theinvention to pro'- vide'y a face mask"including a seating ring of' plastic,Y resilient material arounditsperiphery adapted to. adjust itself to usual' variances in facial'contours. normally encountered;

It isa further. object of'the invention to provide a faceimaskincludingadomefthewalls of which extend perpendicularly to the surfacer` ofthevface atV their lines ofl contact therewith, and inl parV tisularlacross.v the: nose: in order that the: re-- 5'5" taining forcel appliedthrough tliesecuringstraps preferred embodiment of the invention isillustrated:

Figure 1 is a side view of the mask positioned upon the patients facewith certain parts broken away and shown in vertical section;

Figure 2 is a view of the mask opposite that shown in Figure 1 andillustrates the breathing ports and the nose and mouth aspiration ports;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the mask taken on line 3-3 ofFigure l;

Figure 4 is a detail view of an aspiration port with sealing rings,either mouth or nose, showing a rubber closure cap in place to closesame;

Figure 5 is a detail view of an aspiration port similar to Figure 4 butshowing the threaded plug closure means;

Figure 6 is a detail view of an aspiration port similar to Figures 4 and5 and a compound closure plug having inner and outer parts, the formerbeing threaded into the latter which in turn is threaded into the port;and

Figure 'I' is a side elevational View of the mask ring showing thegeneral configuration of the lateral contact sectors. 3

Referring to Figure 1, the face mask is shown positioned correctly onthe patients face and comprises a rigid convex dome I0 of transparentmaterial, for example a suitable transparent plastic, a ring I2 ofresilient cellular rubber, or its equivalent, sealed to the peripherythereof, a pair of straps I4 and I5 to retain the mask securely in placerelative to the patients face. Vertically spaced pins I3 extend rigidlyoutwardly from the sides of the dome'being adapted to seat the ends ofthe straps I4 and I5. Nose and mouth ports I6 and I8 are positioned inthe front of the dome slightly below center and in vertical alignment,being closed normally by plugs I'I and I9. Externally corrugatedcentrally bored nipples 33 and 34, shown best in Figure 2, connectinteriorly to the dome and provide seating means for the ends ofconducting tubes leading, for example, to a metabolism instrument,resuscitator, anesthesia machine or an oxygen cylinder.

The dome IIl may be constructed of any rigid transparent material,plastic being preferred generally, and has a spheroidal surface themajor axis of the spheroid being parallel to the centerline of the face.The peripheral edge of the dome, indicated at II, departs from thenormally spheroidal character of the surface and extends inwardly as arim 22 at an angle such that at every point of contact between the maskand the face the peripheral rim is extended essentially perpendicular tothe surface of the face. The angle between the tangent to the spheroidand the inclination of the rim varies around the periphery of the maskand depends upon curvature of the surface of the face at the differentpoints of contact. The mask may be constructed by employing a doublecavity mold, which would formfthe rim and the bottom half of eachbreathing port in one section, and form the-spheroid from the side withthe upper half of each port in the other section. When this type of moldis used in conjunction With the injection technique of molding, aproduct of perfect transparency and one free of distortion will result.

Sealed to the marginal rim 22 of the dome I0 is the soft sealing ringI2. This ring is constructed of plastic, resilient material such ascellular rubber, and, like the dome, is contoured to conform toanatomical features of the average face, the details of contouring ofthe dome and the ring being best shown in Figures 3 and 7. In Figure '7the broken line 23 indicates the line along which the dome is sealed,the face-contacting surface being indicated by reference character 24.Along the chin sector 25, Figures l, 2 and 7, the ring I2 and the rimare curved to conform to the general contour of the chin. From thissector the ring and rim are very gently curved to follow the congurationof the cheeks, gradually merging into the somewhat sharper curvature 26,to accommodate the malar region or cheekbone, from whence the ring andrim continue in increasing curvature to meet the corresponding sector ofthe opposite side in the midline conformable at 21 with the bridge ofthe nose.

By contourng the peripheral edge of the marginal rim 22 of the mask toconform closely to the anatomical features a twofold advantage isgained. First, a perfect seal of the mask with the face is eifected witha minimum of discomfort to the patient. Second, the upwardly inclinedrim 22 serves to distribute the retaining force exerted through the pinsI3 generally normal to the face along each sector of contact butespecially over` the nasal sector and mental or chin sector, so as tostabilize the position of the mask with reference to its longitudinalaxis.

The soft resilient rubber ring is desirable and necessary because of thevariation in facial contours found in patents. In addition, a rigid maskfitted tightly to the face without such a ring interposed would causegreat discomfort to the wearer.

In the front of the dome are two ports, a nasal port I6 and an oral portI8, each sealed by its removable plug indicated by the referencecharacters I1 and I9, respectively.. The general function of the portsis to provide access to the nasal and oral cavities without removal ofthe mask to permit aspiration of secretions from the mouth and nose.Removal of such secretions is considered absolutely essential in modernpractice to prevent drainage into the lungs. An additional function ofthe ports is to provide means whereby the patient can, during aninterval in the anesthetic, for instance, breathe under atmosphercconditions.

The nasal port I6 is constructed very slightly below the centerline ofthe mask in a central area generally covering the nasal region of theface. So positioned a suction catheter tube can be directed througheither nostril to any point between the inferior turbinate and the ioorof the nose and beyond if necessary to the junction of the nose andthroat, where secretions of the nose accumulate. The oral port i8 isconstructed in the vertical centerline ofthe mask below the port IE andin an area generally covering the oral region of the face. It is sopositioned as to allow a suction catheter tube to be directed to thatvery important point located between the root of thetongue and the backof the throat. Aspiration is accomplished by removing the plug fromA'the desi-red port, inserting the suction catheter -tube and `applyingthe suction. Both the oral and nasal ports are supplied with rubberrings -35 sealed to the interiorsurface-of the dome. Each ring providesa leakproof seal between the catheter and the mask so that the cathetermay be left in place continuously during anesthesia and aspiration maybe accomplished periodically by applying suction to the :catheter byopening a valve to which the catheter is-connectedthrough a rubber tube.

Theclosure plugs used with the ports 'Iland I8 may be of `varied typesso long as they provide'an airtight seal when in place and yet .areeasilyremovable and easily replaced. In .the construction of-Figure 1the plugs are solid resilient elements readily vinsertable manually and.friction'ally retained when inserted. .Referring to Figures 4,.5 and6,'.alternate types of port-closing meanstare illustrated. In the typeof Figure 4 a flanged rubber cap 28 is shown. Figure 5 depicts a.threaded port :I6 sealed by an exteriorly threadedplug 29. Figure 6shows an 'interiorly threaded port |16 closed by a compound plugcomprising a anged bushing or sleeve 3| which is both eXteriorly andinteriorly threaded and which seats a threaded inner plug 32. Sleeve 3iis threaded into Iport i6 and in turn'seats inner plug 32. In this lastembodiment the available port opening is a variable in that the innerplug 32 alone may be vremoved, or both the inner plug 32 with thesurrounding bushing 3l.

1n addition to the ports I6 and I8 are the two breathing ports 33 and 34located `at one side and including laterally extending nipples and whichare adapted to seat the ends of rubber conduits connected to theapparatus with which the mask is being used. In a preferred form thenipples are integral with the dome. These ports may be positioned-uponeither side of the centerline and the presence of two ports ratherthanone presents a greater transconduction area which appreciably reducesthe sense vof resistance to breathing which is sometimes very disturbing.to the patient in the use of ordinary masks.

The mask is securely retained against the face by two straps ht and I5affixed to the dome .IG by means of pins i3 .positioned in diametricallyapposed pairs. The straps may be of rubber or other resilient material.The four pins are positioned along the periphery of the spheroidal domel at or near the edge Il. The two upper pins are located at the junctionofthe nasal and malar sectors, one each on either side of thelongitudinal axis or centerline of the mask. The two lower pins arelocated at the beginning of the mental sector, one each on either sideof the longitudinal axis of the mask. One strap I4 connects an upper pinand a lower pin on opposite sides of the centerline of the mask, theother strap I5 connects the remaining upper and lower pins such that thestrap I5 crosses strap I4 in the back, at or below the juncture of thehead and neck. The major components of the forces exerted through theretaining straps are thus directednormal to the bridge of thenose andchin.

While the particular device herein shown and described in d'etail isfully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantageshereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merelyillustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention andthat no limitations are intended to the details of construction ordesign herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

kivf-claim: H 1. A face mask of the .typefdescrlbedffcompris-" ing atransparent hemispheroidaldome dane peripheral edge o'f lwhich lis"shapedi'to abutiand to conform generally lto the .chin,fcheek, malar:area and'nose cfaA patient, a'softresiIient-'sealing ring sealed toNlthe peripheral edge of said dome 'and having a face-contacting surfacecontoured l:to conform generally I to the .same facialcontours Vassaidfdome, said face-contacting surface :extending vperpendicularly to1the lprojectionrof the adjacent surface of said dome at eachpoint-along its length, -said dome "being provided '-u'rith verticallyspaced frontal ports positioned opposite the nasal 'and oral Yareas of`the face in -Iposition to receive aspirating felements directed tothose areas of a patient wearing themaskI vand means toretainsaid'domevin sealed relationship to the face ofthe patient.

2. A face mask of the type-'described comprising'a transparenthemispheroidal dome the peripheral edge of which is shaped to abutand toconformgenerally-to the chin, cheek, malar area andnose of -a patientyasoft resilient sealing ring sealed to the peripheral edge of `said dome.and being itself contoured to `conform generally ktothe same facialf'contours'as said dome, said dome l being provided lwith frontal portspositioned on the longitudinal centerline of said maskopposite'fthenasal andl oral areas of theface in'position to receive aspiratingelements directed to thoserareas of a patient wearingthe mask, inletandoutlet breathing ports VVpositioned at the side Avof .said dome,corrugated nipples Aformed -exteriorly 'on said dome centrally bored andvinteriorly connected to *said ports, and means to retain said domein-sealed relationship to the fface of `'the patient.

3. Aiace maskofthe type described Acomprising a Jtransparenthemispheroidalr dome y"the peripheral edge of which is shape'dtoabutfandto conform generally tothe chin, cheek, malar area and nose'of apatient, a soft resilient sealingring sealed to the peripheral edge of:said dome and being vitself contoured to "conform -generally `to'the-'same facial `contours -as said dome, said domebeing'providedwithfrontal ports positioned opposite the nasal and oral 'areas of thefacein rposition to receive aspirating 'elements-directed to those areas-of a'patient wearing the mask, vertically-'spaced lpairs of pins Vonopposite sides lof said dome "positioned rearwardly-of a transverseplane 'through theforemost pointsof contact of said ring with 'the'bridge of "the patients nose and with his chin, and straps the ends ofwhich `are removably connected to said pins encircling the head of theApatient to vhold saidy dome 'andring against hisface.

f'4. A facemas'k of the type described comprising a transparenthemispheroidal ydome the `Aperipheral ledge loiwhich is 'contoured' toabut `and to conform 'generally tothe chin, cheek, malar area land'noseof apatient, the portion'of said mask adjacent said peripheral edgeextending angularly lwith respect tothe remainder of the hemispheroidalYdonne 'and' perpendicularly `to the adjacent facial surface as toconverge, if extended, at a focus spaced from said dome, a softresilient sealing ring in which the edge of said dome is embedded andwhich also conforms to said facial areas to seal thereagainst, said domebeing provided with frontal ports positioned opposite the nasal and oralareas of the face in position to receive aspirating elements directed tothose areas of Ia patient wearing the mask, and

means to retain said dome in sealed relationship to the face of thepatient.

5. In a face mask of the type described, a transparent domehemispheroidal in shape and having a marginal rim inclined upwardly fromthe surface of the dome, said rim having its peripheral edge shaped toabut and conform generally to the chin, cheek, malar 4area and nose of apatient, a soft resilient sealing ring sealed to the peripheral edge ofsaid dome rim and having a surface contoured to conform generally to thesame facial contours as said rim, said dome being provided with frontalports located as to be positioned opposite the nasal and oral areas ofthe face of a patient wearing the mask and in position to receiveaspirating elements directed to those areas, removable elements to closesaid frontal ports to effect a gas-impervious seal therewith. and meansto retain the dome in sealed relationship with the face of the patient.

6. In a face mask of the type described, a transparent domehemispheroidal in shape and having a marginal rim inclined inwardly fromthe hemispheroidal surface, said rim having its peripheral edgecontoured to abut and conform generally to the chin, cheek, malar areaand nose of a patient, said rim being so inclined relative to thehemispheroidal surface of the dome as to extend perpendicularly at eachpoint along its length to an adjacent facial surface, a soft resilientsealing ring sealed to the peripheral edge of said dome rim andcontoured to conform generally to the same facial contours as said rimysaid dome being provided with a first frontal port positioned in theplane of the longitudinal centerline of the mask and opposite the nasalarea of a wearers face, said port being formed to receive a manuallyremovable aspirator directed to the nostrils of a patient Wearing themask, a second frontal port positioned in the plane of the longitudinalcenterline of the mask adjacent said first frontal port opposite theoral area of a wearers face and formed to receive said manuallyremovable aspirator when directed to the mouth and throat of a patientwearing the mask, means to seal said frontal ports in the absence ofsaid aspirators, and means to retain said dome in sealed relationship tothe face of the patient.

7. A face mask of the class described, comprising a transparenthemispheroidal dome symmetrically disposed about angularly arranged axesand having a marginal rim inclined inwardly from the hemispheroidalsurface of the dome, said rim having its peripheral edge shaped to abutand conform generally to the chin, cheek, malar area and nose of apatient, said rim being so inclined relative to the hemispheroidalsurface of the dome as to extend at each point along its lengthperpendicularly to an adjacent facial surface of a patient, a softresilient sealing ring sealed to the peripheral edge of said dome rimand being itself contoured to conform generally to the same facialcontours as said rim, said dome being provided with frontal portspositioned opposite the nasal and oral areas of the face, removableplugs to close said frontal ports to effect a gas-impervious seal, andstraps to reta-in said dome in sealed relationship to the face of thepatient.

8. A face mask of the type described, comprising a transparenthemispheroidal dome symmetrically disposed about mutually perpendicularcentral axes and having a marginal rim inclined inwardly from itshemispheroidal surface, said rim having its peripheral edge shaped toabut and conform generally to the chin, cheek, malar area and nose of apatient, said rim being so inclined relative to the hemispheroidalsurface of the dome as to extend at each point along its lengthperpendicularly to an adjacent facial surface of a patient, a softresilient ring sealed to the peripheral edge of said dome rim and beingitself contoured to conform generally to the same facial contours assaid rim, said dome being provided with a first frontal port positionedin the plane of the longitudinal centerline of the mask and opposite thenasal area of the face being formed to receive a removable aspiratordirected to the nostrils of a patient wearing the mask, a second frontalport positioned in said plane, adjacent said first frontal port, andopposite the oral area of the face being formed to receive a manuallyremovable aspirator directed to the mouth and throat of a patientWearing the mask, means to close each of said frontal ports in theabsence of said aspirator, and means to retain said dome in sealedrelationship to the face of the patient.

9. In a face mask of the type described, a transparent dome,hemispheroidal in shape and having a marginal rim inclined inwardly fromits hemispheroidal surface, said rim having its peripheral edge shapedto abut and conform generally to the chin, cheek, malar area and nose ofa patient, said rim being so inclined relative to the hemispheroidalsurface of the dome as to extend at each point along its lengthperpendicularly to an adjacent facial surface, a soft resilient ringsealed to the peripheral edge of said dome rim contoured to conformgenerally to the same facial contours as said rim, said dome beingprovided with frontal ports positioned opposite the nasal and oral areasof the face in position selectively to receive an aspirating elementdirected to said areas of the face of a patient Wearing the mask, meansto seal said frontal ports in the absence of said aspirating element,exteriorly corrugated nipples formed integrally on the side of said domehaving centrally formed bores extending therethrough and into said dometo conduct inhaled and exhaled air or gas to and from said mask, andmeans to retain the dome in sealed relationship to the face of thepatient.

ARTHUR E. ENGELDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,506,296 Gaddini May 2, 19502,540,567 Bennett Feb. 6, 1951

